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(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. BUXTORF. YARN FEEDING DEVIGE FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 495,472. Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

(NoModeL) s Shets-Sheet 2.

E. BUXTORF. YARN FEEDING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES. No. 495,472]

Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3' E. B-UXTORF. YARN FEEDING DEVICE FOR'KNITTING MACHINES.

No.495,472. A PatentedApr. 18,1893.

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E BUXTORP YARN FEEDING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES.-

No. 495,472. Patented Apr. 18, 1893.,

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(No Model.) 7 6 sheets -sheet 5.

E. BUXTORP. YARN FEEDING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 495,472. Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheefis-Sheet 6;

E. BUXTORF. YARN FEEDING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES. No. 495,472. Patented Apr. 18,1893.

INS/ENTER" fTEs-T: L

A/QWM Mint-r3 C) l -%J. @;ZW iy W unnml UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMANUEL BUXTORF, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

YARN-FEEDING DEVICE FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,472, dated April 18, 1893.

Applioation filed January 8, 1890. Serial No. 336,328. (No model.) Patented in France May 23,

October 16. 1888,1I0 48,893; in England August 14, 1889, No. 12,808,

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, EMANUEL BUXTORF, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Paris, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Yarn -Feeding Devices forKnitting-lvlachines, (for which I have received a patent in Great Britain, No. 12,808, dated August 14, 1889 in Germany,0ctober 16, 1888, No. 48,893; in Switzerland, February 1, 1890, No. 2,089, and in France, May 23, 1888, No. 190,750,) of which the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of plaited figured goods in knitting frames the positions of the two thread guides must be relatively changed according to the pattern being produced, so that the thread which at one time forms the inner surface of the meshes is at another time utilized in forming the outer surface and vice versa.

Hitherto the necessary movements of the thread guides for the purpose of changing their relative positions have been effected to a limited extent by purely mechanical means, and every new pattern involves expensive preparations for its reproduction, while in circular machines the types of patterns which can be produced are very limited in number and character. According to these improvements the necessary changes in the relative positions of the thread guides for the purpose of producing the patterns are effected by means of electromagnetic devices. These electro-magnetic devices are so constructed and arranged as to have the energizing electric current controlled by a pattern chain, a pattern wheel, pattern cards, or an equivalent apparatus, in such a manner that the magnets operate the thread guides as and when required by the exigences of the pattern. These improvements are especially applicable to circular machines but they may also be applied to straight bar and other knitting machines.

The accompanying drawings to which reference is hereinafter made will illustrate in what manner these improvements may be carried into practical effect.

Figures 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, and 4?, show in what manner these improvements are applied to a circular machine and will be first hereinafter described. Figs. 5, 5, 5 6 and 7 relate to- 1888,11'0. 190,750; in Germany and in $witzerland February 1, 1890, No. 2,089.

straight bar machines. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged detail views of thread guides. Figs. 9 9, 9 ,are enlarged detail views of the thread guides.

Referring first to Figs. 1' and l,ff are two threads of different colors or otherwise different which are respectively conducted to the needles n by means of the thread guides F F which are made as flat as is possible while preserving the required amount of strength and rigidity.

The thread guides F F are so arranged that they may readily pass one below the other as indicated in Fig. l, and they are secured upon the: lower ends of two vertical rods Z Z which pass upward through the two tubes A A, the

latter serving as guides for the rods Z Z aforesaid. Said tubes A, A, are secured to a bracket K, the latter of which may be integral or otherwise connected with the frame of the machine. The rods Z Z have secured upon their upper ends two small spur pinions r 4", one pinion being mounted upon each rod and the two pinions gearing together. Upon one of the vertical rods Z, Z, there is mounted above the tubes A, A, a helical spring 3 arranged in a manner that it will tend to twist or turn the thread guides F, F, which are con nected to the lower ends of the said vertical rods. struction the said thread guides F, F, will be turned each in one direction and relatively in an opposite direction.

To effect a change in the relative positions of the thread guides it will be obvious from the described construction and arrangement that it will only be necessary to turn one of the rods ZZ through a comparatively smallangle. This angular motion is effected by means of the electro-magnet R which attracts the armature Ct as soon as the circuit through the coils of the magnet is closed. The armature being pivoted at a and having attached to it a light lever a the motion of the armature pulls the cord, wire, or light rod b which is connected to lever a and to one of the vertical rods ZZ. The wire or similar means of connection between the lever a and the rod Z is attached to a projection d on rod Z so that when rod 1) is pulled by the action of the magnet upon the armature, rod Z will be It will be obvious that with this conturned through part of a revolution; and, since the rod Zis geared by the wheels 1' r to the rod Z, it follows that rotation of the rod Z in one direction involves a corresponding rotation of the rod Z in the opposite direction. The thread guides being as hereinbeforev described attached to the rods Z Z, the motion of the rodsis communicated to the thread guides.

The electro-magnet B may be operated by a variety of means according to the nature of the design which it is desired to produce. I

have illustrated the circuit in Fig. l asbeing supplied by the battery 13 As represented in Figs. 1 and '1 of which Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 1 a plan, the pattern wheel, contact point, and battery being omitted in the latterfigure, the design is produced by means of a pattern wheelc co-' axial with and secured to the toothed wheel T the teeth of which engage with the needles of the machine. The pattern wheel-hasincisions or grooves 0 upon its periphery which may either be'left open or be filled with an insulatingv material 0' and it or its metallic surface is electrically connected with oneend of a wire forming part oftheoircuit in which the magnet R is included. A brushor spring contact "K is arranged to press upon the ungrooved portions of the-wheel C, and,'this contact K being electrically connected with the other end of the wireforming the circuit within which themagnet Ris included, it follows that WhGHIC'iS' in contact with O the circuit will be closed and the magnet be energized, and that when K is in contact with the insu lating material or is over one of grooves in O- the magnet will cease to be energized." It follows therefore that thethread guides'are operated through the electro-magnet R 'by the rotation of the pattern wheel andthat the -pe-' riods of this operation will be governed by-the nature and extentof the incisions or grooves in the periphery of the pattern wheel.

Figs. 2 and -52 show a pattern chain M, which may be substituted for the pattern wheel. This patternchain mayresernble-the pattern chains used for looms, but the projections,-m being required to-close an electric circuit only, may be muchlighter;

Fig. 3 represents a modification of the'pattern wheel arrangement. tion the teeth of thewheel Eare arranged to press the'needles n of the-machine against the contact K and thus close the circuit including the electro-magnet. Acertain number of the teeth'of the wheel are cut away according to the nature of the pattern to beproduced, and as indicated in the drawings,so that when the parts cutaway come opposite to the contact Kthe needles will not be dis placedand the circuit willnot be closed.

The thread guides may be operated through surface instead of a pattern wheel or pattern Such a This chain as hereinbefore described. roller is indicated at Y Figs. 4 and 4..

In this modificaroller, which must have a metallic contact surface, is mounted upon a mandrel which carries the toothed wheel T engaging with the machine needles. The surface of the roller is connected to one end of the circuit and the contact K with the other end of the circuit in which the magnetR is included as already hereinbefore described. The contact K is-mounted upon a nut carried upon the screw spindle in g such a manner that the contact K traverses the spindle roller. The rotation of the screw carrying the tracing point K, is effected by means of a wheel W connected with one ,end thereof. Said wheel is provided with" a series of radially projecting pins P which are adapted to engage with the rotating wheelofth'e frame in' an--obvious manner. It will 'be'seen that when: the *contact Kisabove adep'ressed or insulated part of the roller, the-electric circuit will be opened, the electro-magnet will i be inert; and the thread guides will occupy one position relativelyto each other; as soonhowever 'aswthe point K comesinto contact with-the metallic contact surface-of the roller, the "circuit will be closed, themagnet will 1be=energized,and the relative positions of the thread guides: will be reversed. Thus the design on the roller will be reprod-uced'insthe fabricwhatev'er its intricacy and the hitherto insuperable diffi cultyof producing such" patterns on avcircu lar frame has thus-been overcome;

Figs-5, 5 and 5 ill-ust-ratein sideviewmnd view and planx-respectivelyyin what manner the hereinbeforedescribed improvements may be applied to a straight machine, and the thread guidesFF fora Straight'maehine as shOWn -in-Figs-B; 9, and 10, may be'arrangcdto move inopposite di-rections as-described with respect to the circularmachine,"or one of the thread guides may be fitted and the other be movable." In' either case,the positions of the threads upon the needles must bech'anged when -the electro-magnet "R becomes energiz'edand .againwhemit becomes inert; In the arrangement represented the pattern in the fabrie is supposed-to be produced from-an engraved or similar roller y as hereinbefore describediwi'th referenceto-Figs; 4 and This "roller is 'rotatedilthrough -a small'angleflhe extent of which' will' be determined "in each case by the I nature of the work, by .means'of-a ratchet 10 and" ratchet wheel r mounted-upon the-axis of the en graved roller and whichmay be operated by a lever r and cam T The contact point Kby means of which theelectric circuit is closed and opened is mountedupon-the thread guide carrier 'h'so that the-pointK slides along the surface otthe engraved rolle'r-by-the motion of-the'thread guide carrier to'which'it is attached. The threadguides will"accordingly be operated by the electro-magnet consequent on'the opening and closing of its circuit in such a manner that the lengths ofthe threads ff on the needles correspondingly change and a figured fabric is produced.

In substitution for the engraved roller y other devices may be employed; for example, an endless pattern chain or band M Fig. 6 may be laid over a smooth or suitable roller which occupies the position represented as being occupied by the roller y in Figs. 5, 5", and 5 This roller is similarly rotated by means of the ratchet wheel 0" and the point K is traversed over the design on the band as and for the purpose described with reference to the engraved or similar roller.

In Fig. 7 a metallic bar 3 is substituted for the engraved or similar roller or the pattern band already described. This bar has formed upon its upper surface metallic and non-metallic transverse portions, the respective portions m, 172 being proportioned as may be required by the pattern. The bar is electrically connected with the end of one of the wires of the circuit in which the electro-m agnet is included, the contact K being connected with the other end of the'circuit wire. The threads will be changed as hereinbefore described when the contact K comes over the metallic or a non-metallic part of s and thus closes" and opens the circuit; Under the bar .9 there may be mounted upon a suitable spindle a Wheel E having metallic and non-metallic parts on its periphery. The end of the electric circuit instead of being connected to s as before described is in this case connected to the metallic part of thewheel E which rotates in electrical contact with the bar 8 In this arrangement the circuit can only be,

closed when both the point K is in contact with a metallic part of s and "s is in contact with a metallic part of E. The metallic parts of s and E are therefore arranged and proportioned so as to produce the desired design. The wheel E may be rotated by the ratchet wheel r as described for the engravedroller. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the arrangement adapted for a cottonframe. In this arrangement the thread guide Fis pivoted at w and the thread guide F at 00. At an intermediate point the thread guides are connected by a screw y and slot as shown. From this arrangement it follows that a motion of one of the thread guides in one direction involves a corresponding motion of the other thread guide in the other direction. The lever a of the armature of the electro'magnet R is connected to one of the thread guides by means of a pitman or rod a and the opening or closing of the circuit therefore involves a change in the position of each of the thread guides, and a corresponding changein the positions of the threads.

The modifications and arrangements which are hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings are intended to be typical only of the large variety of ways in which these improvements may be carried into effect in connection with knitting machines of all kinds. The application of these improvements will, with the description hereinbefore given, be sufficiently obvious in all cases.

Having now particularly described and asing to eifect the vibration of the yarn guide,

substantially as described.

2. The combination with two yarn guides connected to move simultaneously in opposite directions, of an electro-magnet, its armature connected with the guides to move the same, and a contact point and pattern device placed in an electric circuit embracing the said magnet, the circuit being completed by contact of the point with portions of the pattern surface, and the magnet by attracting its armature serving to effect the vibration of the yarn guides, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the two yarnguides geared together, as described, of an electro-niagnet, its armature connected with one of said guides to vibrate the same, and a contact point and pattern device placed in an electric circuit embracingthe said magnet, the circuit being completed by contact of the point with portions of the pattern surface "and the magnet by attracting its armature serving to effect the vibration of the yarn guides, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a vibrating yarn guide, of an electro-magnet,its armature connected with said guide, and a contact point and pattern device placed in an electric circuit embracing the said magnet, the pattern device deriving movement from the needles of the knitting machine to which the devices are applied, the circuit being completed by contact of the point with portions of the pattern surface, and the magnet, by attracting its armature, serving to efiect the vibration of the yarn guide, substantially as described.

5. The combination with two yarn guides connected to move simultaneously in opposite directions, of an electro-magnet, its armature connected with'the guides to move the same, and a contact point and pattern device placed in an electric circuit embracing the said magnet, the pattern device derivin g movement from the needles of theknit ting machine to which the devices are applied,

the circuit being completed by contact of the point with portions of the pattern surface and stems, gearing connecting said stems, and a spring for causing rotation ofsaid stems, of

an electro -magnet, its armature connected with one of the said stems, and a contact point and pattern device placed in an electric circuit embracingthe said magnet, the pattern device deriving movement from the need1es of-the knitting machine to which the devices are applied, the circuit being completed IO by contact of the point with portions of the pattern surface and the magnet by attracting its armature serving to eflect the vibra tion of the yarn guide, substantiallyas described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of November, 1889.

, EMANUEL BUXTORF.

Witnesses:

HENRY DANZER, EDWARD P. MAOLEAN. 

